Skip to main content

Military officially declares coup in the Republic of the Niger

Military takes responsibility for coup in Niger, President still detained.

The West African country of Niger has been thrown into turmoil as soldiers declared a coup on national TV. The military has taken control of the nation, dissolving the constitution, suspending all institutions, and closing the borders, leaving the fate of Niger in uncertainty.

President Mohamed Bazoum, who was democratically elected in 2021, has been detained by troops from the presidential guard since early Wednesday morning. However, the current whereabouts of the President remain unknown.

Residence of Niger President
Residence of Niger President

The international community has expressed concern over the situation, with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken assuring President Bazoum of "unwavering support" in a phone call, while UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres offered the UN's full backing.

President Bazoum is a key ally in the fight against Islamist militancy in West Africa, making the coup particularly worrisome for neighboring countries and Western nations. Mali and Burkina Faso have experienced coups in recent years triggered by jihadist uprisings, causing regional instability.

During a televised address, Col Maj Amadou Abdramane, accompanied by nine other uniformed soldiers, declared the establishment of the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland (CNSP), assuming control of the nation's governance. The military cited the deteriorating security situation and poor economic and social governance as the reasons for their intervention.

Niger Millitary announces coup [Guardian]
Niger Millitary announces coup [Guardian]

Col Maj Abdramane asserted, "All external partners are asked not to interfere," signaling the military's intention to manage the situation internally. The announcement also included the imposition of a night curfew from 22:00 to 05:00 local time until further notice.

Supporters of President Bazoum took to the streets in the capital city of Niamey earlier on Wednesday, July 26, 2023. The city remained relatively calm, but the soldiers involved in the coup fired shots to disperse the demonstrations.

President Mohamed Bazoum of Niger Republic. [Channels TV]
President Mohamed Bazoum of Niger Republic. [Channels TV]

Niger has a history of political instability, having experienced four coups since gaining independence from France in 1960, with numerous attempted coups further adding to the country's challenges. The presence of Islamist insurgencies in the south-west and south-east regions has exacerbated Niger's security issues.

In response to the coup, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) condemned the military's attempt to seize power through force and has sent Benin's President Patrice Talon to mediate and restore constitutional order in Niger.

Find out the timeline of events since yesterday

ridoola.blogspot.com.ng
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

EFCC insists on presentation of Grace Tiaga's death certificate in P&ID case

Tiaga's counsel communicated the unavailability of the death certificate, requesting additional time. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is steadfast in its demand for the death certificate of the late Grace Tiaga, a former director of legal services at the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, to be submitted in court. Tiaga faced charges brought by the EFCC, alleging her involvement in receiving payments from Process & Industrial Development (P&ID) to manipulate the 20-year gas supply and processing agreement (GSPA) against Nigeria. The EFCC claims that these illicit payments were made through her daughter and persisted even after her retirement. The accusations extend to Tiaga's purported failure to adhere to due process while providing legal counsel on the GSPA. Initially facing eight counts of fraud, she was remanded to Suleja prison in 2019, later granted bail, and the charges were expanded to 13 counts. As the trial progressed, the prosecution p...
Post a Comment
Read more

List of America's one-term presidents & why they were not re-elected

U.S. President Joe Biden becomes the most recent entrant in a list of president who served for only one term. U.S. President Joe Biden announced that he would not be seeking re-election for a second term in the November 5, 2024 elections. Biden, in a statement said that he would be focused on completing his remaining term, endorsing his Vice President Kamala Harris as his most preferred nominee for the Democratic Party to take on former President Donald Trump. Joe Biden endorses Kamala Harris as Democrats' candidate after withdrawing from race [X:@JoeBiden] Biden now joins a list of former U.S. Presidents that only served for one term. John Adams (1797-1801) The second president of the United States, John Adams was a Founding Father who faced significant challenges during his presidency, including conflicts with political adversaries and foreign nations. His support for the Alien and Sedition Acts, perceived as a violation of civil liberties, contributed to his unpopulari...
Post a Comment
Read more

Tinubu appoints MKO Abiola's son, Jamiu as SSA on Linguistics & Foreign Matters

President Bola Tinubu has appointed Jamiu Abiola as the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Linguistics and Foreign Matters. The appointee is one of the children of the late Chief Moshood Kolawole Abiola , the winner of the 1993 presidential election annulled by General Ibrahim Babangida . According to a statement by Segun Imohiosen , the Director of Information and Public Relations, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation on Wednesday, November 27, 2024, Jamiu's appointment took effect from November 14, 2024. Imohiosen said the appointment aligns with the provisions of the Certain Political and Judicial Office Holders (Salaries and Allowances, etc) Act 2008, as amended. Until his recent deployment, the appointee served as the Special Assistant to the President of Special Duties in the office of the Vice President. Tinubu tasked Jamiu to work closely with the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs and bring his wealth of experience to bear in his new ...
Post a Comment
Read more